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How To Curb Ethno-religious Crisis In Nigeria – Dons

Published

4 years ago

August 2, 2022

Editor

Experts have called on religious bodies in Nigeria to embrace inter-faith dialogues and negotiations as a means of curbing ethno-religious crises in Nigeria.

According to a statement released by Veritas University on Tuesday, the experts made this known at a round table organised by the Centre for Peace and Development, Veritas University, and the Rosa Luxembourg Foundation.

Speaking during the event, a professor of Islamic thoughts and gender studies, University of Abuja, Rafatu Abdulhamid, reiterated the need for religious leaders to preach peaceful co-existence among their followers.

He said, “Since it is practically impossible to coerce the citizens to practice only the same religion, the only option available is to face the reality on ground, which is to learn to live together in peace and harmony. The way to achieve this is to open the door to dialogue with commitment.

“Without peace, there cannot be stability, progress, and prosperity, all of which go a long way to make a nation take its pride of place in the committee of nations.

“The conclusion now becomes urgent that the government should develop more political will to ensure that peace is achieved in the country. Further, religious leaders should sensitize their followers on the need for peaceful coexistence. Religious groups should be made to lay more emphasis on the common denominators among them rather than their differences. For instance, moral teachings are largely similar in both Islam and Christianity. Government should make necessary sacrifices and take the required steps to improve the quality of life for all citizens.

Also speaking at the event, the Head of Department, Religion and African Culture, Adekunle Ajasin University, Professor Benson Igboin, noted that Nigeria is currently undergoing a destructive mode.

“In the destructive mode that Nigeria is presently undergoing, talk is important at the political and religious levels. The position that the unity of the country is nonnegotiable is self-serving and does not reflect the reality and demand for talk. On the religious plane, talk is also indispensable. But who talks and how the talk takes place are pertinent because talk can bring about peace or aggravate intolerant reactions.

“We have argued that many conversational encounters have been confused with dialogue in Nigeria. In a ‘talk to’ situation, listeners are perceived as active receptors and passive respondents.

“Taken into a religious conversational mode, one religious leader may assume that he or she must be listened to, and everything said taken as true.

“In reality, the talker is not always correct; he stands on a portal that is not entirely free from subjective mode. Debate and argument regard others as opponents who must be won or convinced to shift the meaning of what is being discussed.

“In some instances, so-called inter-religious dialogue is characterised by debate and argument that leave people more hurt than healed. The forceful language with which religious leaders sometimes express their experiences depicts the tone of debate and argument. This is more so because dialogue should not only be thought of in its formal arrangement.

“Negotiation also has its inherent limitations as a form of conversation. While it does not regard participants as brothers, it also has recourse to power and politicking that have been the bane of a fruitful dialogue in the country.

“A sense of brotherhood is urgently needed in Nigerian interfaith relations and dialogue.”

PUNCH

News

Edo NLC Crisis: Caretaker Committee Drags Rival Exco, Govt To Court

Published

3 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The division in the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), took a new dimension on Wednesday as Prof. Monday Monday Lewis Igbafen-led caretaker committee approached the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Benin Judicial Division, seeking to affirm its authority and restrain a rival executive from parading itself as the council’s leadership.

Joined in the suit are the Edo State Government, the Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

In a suit marked: NICN/BEN/12/2026, and filed before the court in Benin, the claimant, Igbafen, acting for himself and on behalf of the NLC Caretaker Committee in Edo State, is challenging the continued occupation of the union’s secretariat and control of its assets by members of the Bernard Egwakhide-led factional State Executive Council.

The claimants are asking the court to declare that the caretaker committee (Igbafen-led faction), constituted on August 11, 2025, by the NLC national leadership, remains the only lawful authority to administer the affairs of the Edo State Council pending fresh elections.

They further seek a declaration that the continued occupation of the NLC secretariat located at No. 1 Teboga Road, Benin City, as well as the retention of union assets, financial records, and official instruments by the defendants, is illegal and void.

The suit also prays for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from parading themselves as officials of the NLC Edo Council or interfering with the functions of the caretaker committee.

In addition, the claimants are seeking a mandatory order compelling the defendants to immediately hand over the secretariat, vehicles, financial documents, cheque books, and all other properties belonging to the union.

The caretaker committee further urged the court to restrain the state government and its officials from interfering in the internal affairs of the union, alleging undue support for the dissolved executive.

The claimants further demand N50 million as general and exemplary damages against the defendants for alleged unlawful usurpation of office and acts prejudicial to the administration of the council.

According to court documents made available to our correspondent, the crisis followed the dissolution of the Edo State Council by the NLC National Executive Council on February 27, 2025, over allegations of misconduct, anti-union activities, and constitutional violations.

However, the matter has yet to be assigned a hearing date.

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

8 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.

Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.

La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.

The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.

The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.

He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.

News

Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses

Published

9 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.

A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.

“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.

“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.

“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.